A Tribute to John Schinella — FirebirdFest 2026
Returning to St. Louis as a guest artist for a weekend celebrating the Pontiac Firebird community, automotive art, friendship, and an unforgettable tribute to John Schinella.
Firebirdfest 2026
FirebirdFest has become a very special part of my journey as an automotive artist.
Every year, I have the privilege of traveling to St. Louis, Missouri, as a guest artist for an event that brings together Pontiac Firebird enthusiasts, collectors, owners, and friends from across the United States.
For me, FirebirdFest has grown into much more than an automotive event. It has become a place to reconnect with friends and clients, meet new people, share my work, and experience the passion of a community built around one of the most iconic American performance cars ever created.
In 2026, I returned to St. Louis for another unforgettable edition, this time with a very special project.
Firebirdfest 2026
Returning to FirebirdFest
Traveling from Brazil to St. Louis each year gives me the opportunity to experience American automotive culture in a very personal way.
Throughout the event, I had the chance to spend time with friends, clients and members of the Firebird community who have supported my work over the years.
I also brought several commissioned artworks from my studio in Brazil to personally deliver to clients during FirebirdFest.
There is something particularly meaningful about handing an original artwork directly to the person who commissioned it. After spending hours in the studio learning about their car and transforming its story into art, being able to finally meet the owner and deliver the finished piece in person completes the experience.
More Than an Automotive Event
FirebirdFest is also about everything that happens beyond the exhibition itself.
During my time in St. Louis, I had the opportunity to participate in different activities and drives, experience the local automotive culture, spend time surrounded by incredible cars, and most importantly, reconnect with people who over the years have become much more than clients.
They have become friends.
Those moments are an important part of why I continue returning to the event.
Cars may initially bring everyone together, but the friendships, stories and experiences created around them are what make the automotive community special.
A Tribute to John Schinella
A Tribute to John Schinella
For FirebirdFest 2026, I wanted to create an artwork with a special meaning.
The idea was to honor John Schinella and celebrate his legacy and connection with the Pontiac Firebird.
Instead of portraying only one automobile, I created a composition bringing together different Firebirds, representing different moments of the model's history and the generations of enthusiasts who continue preserving that legacy today.
The entire artwork was created by hand in my studio in Brazil before traveling with me to St. Louis.
Art for a Greater Purpose
The story became even more meaningful when the original painting was donated to be auctioned during FirebirdFest 2026 in support of charity.
A painting that began as an idea in my studio in São Paulo traveled thousands of miles to St. Louis, was presented to the person it was created to honor, personally signed by him, and ultimately used to help support an important cause.
That journey represents much of what I want JCARCUSTOM to stand for.
Not simply paintings of automobiles, but artwork capable of connecting cars, history and people.
Meeting John Schinella
Meeting John Schinella
One of the most memorable moments of the entire trip was having the opportunity to spend time with John Schinella himself.
As an automotive artist whose work is deeply influenced by automotive design and history, being able to speak directly with someone connected to the creation of cars that became cultural icons was incredibly meaningful.
I was able to show John the artwork created in his honor and talk with him during the event.
Then came the moment that made the painting truly unique:
John Schinella personally signed the original artwork.
His signature became part of the piece, creating a direct connection between the artwork, the history it celebrates, and one of the people behind that history.
For me, it transformed an already special painting into a piece of automotive history.